Personal Safety Awareness
Some of the following ideas were shared by brother Kirk Bertelsen during our recent Safety Awareness evening.
Kirk Bertelsen has spent his entire career as a first responder. Brother Bertelsen served as a police officer for more than two decades. He also served as a fire paramedic for 10 years, and currently serves as the County Fire Marshall. He has assisted people from every walk of life as they have navigated crisis.
His class focused on situational awareness – How to prevent situations that put you in danger, and what to do if you find yourself in a situation where your safety may be compromised.
Personal Safety
- Train yourself to be aware of your surroundings, and be mindful of ways in which you are vulnerable.
- Stay off your phone, and don’t use earphones.
- Stay in light areas, avoid corners and areas where you can be grabbed. Walk on the sidewalk, against the flow of traffic (most assaults occur behind the Victim). Avoid bushes and alleys where someone could hide. Cross the street if you are at all concerned. Do not be afraid to leave anywhere you are uncomfortable.
- If you are alone in a place that has a security team (University Campus, at a mall), and you have to go to your car alone at night, call security to escort you.
- In parking lots, don’t park by vans without windows, and try to park with your drivers’ side against either a curb or the cart storage section – the idea being that you are not easy to pull out of your car this way. Walk down the middle of the aisle in parking lots, not close enough that someone could pull you into a vehicle.
- If you see something or someone suspicious, make mental notes so that you could describe it later.
Car Safety:
- Always lock your car doors upon entering the car.
- Park in well lighted areas
- Have your car keys prepared when you are going to your car so that you do not linger at your car door.
- Check the back seat before entering your car.
- If you think another car is following you, drive to a public place
- Close your garage door before getting out of your car
- Purses and other valuables should be tucked under the seat while driving so as to avoid smash and grab thefts – which can happen at stoplights, while getting gas, or in parking lots.
Behavior:
- Walk with confidence, shoulders back, head high. Even if you’re lost, don’t act like it. Use body language and situational awareness to look like the person a criminal wants to avoid.
- Make eye contact.
- Stay calm.
If there is a confrontation:
- Run, get out as fast as you can, if possible.
- If you can’t run, FIGHT. Make a scene. You are worth the fight.
- Do everything you can to stay upright and avoid getting picked up. If you do get knocked to the ground, don’t panic. Remember, your legs are longer than their arms.
Some fighting tips:
- Scream! Make noise. Scream and yell, as you attempt to get loose and attract attention. Don’t be embarrassed to make a scene.
- Release the rage in you!
- Use your pepper spray or noise alarm if you have one. Bundles of heavy keys on a lanyard are also a good weapon if needed. Pepper spray can be used up to 30 feet away, so don’t wait if you think you’re in danger.
- Go for the vulnerable spots, eyes, ears, nose, chin, solar plexus, groin, anything soft
- The eyes are a great spot to get them: make their eyes blurry – if their eyes are messed up, they can’t see you.
- Hit with open palm, as the base of the palm in particularly is very hard.
- Kick them. The side of the knee is particularly vulnerable.
- Pain compliance – make them feel enough pain that they will want to stop the fight
Here’s a list of RAD classes and programs in Utah. http://www.rad-systems.com/program_ut.html
What do in case of an active shooter:
- Run
- Hide
- Fight
- After – keep your hands empty and comply immediately with all orders from law enforcement.
Here is a guide to more information on what to do: https://www.ready.gov/active-shooter
What to do in case of a home invasion:
- Try to never look like you’re home alone.
- Have a plan for your family and practice it.
- Get out if you can, avoid confrontation, and get to safety.
- If you do have to fight, be prepared with a baseball bat and pepper spray near your bed. If you accidentally pepper spray a family member coming home late, the consequences are less dire than a firearm.
- Call 911 and stay on the line with them. The dispatcher will walk you through everything, including what to do when the police show up. You do not want to be mistaken for the intruder.
- Own a dog, or at least look like you do.
What to do in case of sexual assault:
- Make sure you’re safe. Get to a safe place or call a friend who can help you. If you’re in immediate danger, call 911. If the person who assaulted you is a family member or someone you know, tell someone you trust what happened.
- Go to the ER and get medical care. They will walk you through everything you need to from there, including if you want to involve the *police.
- Do not shower or clean yourself, or alter your appearance in any way if you can help it. This includes combing your hair or changing your clothes. If you do, keep the clothes in a bag.
- Remember that it’s not your fault. Ever. There are resources to help people who have been victims of sexual assault, including counseling and other therapy. https://www.rainn.org/
*Sexual assault is a crime and victims deserve justice. However in the case of adults, it’s the victim’s choice whether or not to press charges. This is not true of minors however, and healthcare professionals, teachers, and other adults are mandated to report any knowledge of sexual assault of a minor to the police.
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-(800)-656-HOPE(4673)
National Domestic Violence hotline: 1-(800)-799-7233